Agree with this. For Ralph to be in charge post-WC, it is looking like we need at least 2 wins from Arsenal, Palace, Newcastle and Liverpool. I just can't see that happening, certainly not with the way we are playing.
The downside of swashbuckling, pressing football is that it only works if everyone believes that it works. If you have players that are confident, react quickly and instinctively, you get excellent results. If you get burned a few times, suddenly that confidence breaks down a bit, and you can get a bit of a vicious circle. Ralph becomes less aggressive in his system to limit exposure because the players are not committing fully for fear of getting burned, leading to further erosion in that commitment to the system. I suspect that's where the current team selection comes from: they are not our most talented XI, but they are the players that Ralph believes will at least attempt to execute the game plan. And they have worked hard, it's just that a few of them are not necessarily very good at football. and don't really have the necessary skillset to play fast, transitional football. It's a trap that a lot of managers on teams that are struggling find themselves in, where they lean on players who are in their minds reliable. But reliably mediocre can only take you so far. Doesn't mean that Ralph's suddenly lost the plot and become a bad manager, or that our players have lost faith in him. We've seen multiple ebbs-and-flows of this nature, where the side regains that confidence and plays to the plan. But there are arguably diminishing returns over time; the doubts creep back in faster and players are perhaps a little less likely to forget the times it didn't work.
The win at Bournemouth was essential. Losing to Arsenal would be expected given our relative form. As long as the team keeps grinding out expected results he deserves a bit more time. Let’s not forget the injury situation and the lack of various key positions which have affected our results, ever since Lavia was injured and arguably dating back to Timo’s injury. Let’s also not forget that this poll merely reflects the individual views of a small section of Saints fans, and has absolutely no impact on Ralph’s future in reality. If SR sack him today and replace him immediately I won’t complain. Neither will I moan if they keep him until the end of the season, provided our form picks up.
Agree with this, although you’d like to think the influx of energetic, young players was partly to provide that injection of new blood to resurrect this way of playing. Trouble is, they’re largely not quite ready yet (ABK and Lavia notwithstanding). The clamour for Edozie to start is odd. Physically he’d get twatted around the place at the moment.
The mounting injury list means, in my opinion, this is no time to be changing manager. Four games until the world cup break after which the first game on boxing day should see all but Tino fit, fingers crossed for Kyle. I was on the fence for a while but now think he should stay unless someone with impeccable credentials is available.
My view currently is that either the bosses spend some big money and get credited players to help him or Ralph goes and we get a better class of manager. One ot tother. Ralph to me does not seem to have the correct experience around him in players and training staff
I've never changed my view, I have always been Ralph in but was fearing the worst for Ralph, but these last few games show me as I have said before that the players are playing for the fans, each other, the club and Ralph. We have hopefully turned the corner as the youngsters have gelled etc. This is not even our full strength side with KWP, AMN, ABK, Tino and Lavia missing, surely we are only gonna get better?
The players are looking up for the fight again. Not sure what’s changed. But we ran our socks off again today. This was the sort of battling performance which made us all love him in the first place. Such a confusing manager/team
Good result, quite interesting that out consistent worst performer is JWP at the moment. Loke the physical presence of the CB's although did have my heartt in the mouth about a pen being awarded
It would. It would be like when Adkins drew at Stamford Bridge and was sacked a while later. Im hoping with everything that this represents an end to the poor run.
It would feel it, but there is a well established trend that we do well in a game like today and then revert straight back to type. I still think he should go because there hasn’t been enough evidence of this trend being bucked yet, if he stays and we can keep on playing well until the WC then it might be a different matter. The onus is now on him to convince us after a poor start to the season and as good as today and 5 points from the last three is, he still has work to do to get people back onside.
I appreciate this might sound like I really have it in for Ralph (which I don't), but again I don't really see that this changes much either where Ralph is concerned. Playing well against a bigger side has been a feature of Ralph's entire reign. These aren't the games which are the problem. It's the limp defeats to Everton, Villa, Wolves, WBA, Norwich, Watford etc. Even going back to his very first season, I recall that we lose twice to Cardiff. Today was great. And if we play like it regularly, things will be great. But right now, I've seen this story too many times before.
A good point but after 5 points from West Ham, Bournemouth and Arsenal it makes sense to see if we can build on that going into the final 3 fixtures before the WC break. I think we should get a replacement lined up in case, but give Ralph Palace, Newcastle and Liverpool before a final decision is made.
Drive down from London with an Arsenal fan yesterday. He showed the same incredulity most non Saints fans exhibit when the subject of Ralph came up, ie “He’s done well hasn’t he? Do people really want him out?” I could only reply, “You know what football fans are like mate, they’re all mad.” I seem to remember my mate wanted Arterta out a while ago. Now they’re top of the league. I think I enjoyed the drive home more than he did. That’s what really mattered.
I know, I'm on the verge of changing my vote back to in because of the effort the players are putting in. I was starting to think he had lost the players but the last 2 games have been nothing like the 3 before that. So typical, ****, good, ****, good, ****, good. Still, the wins need to come and playing Walcott over Mara does nothing to inspire me TBH.
I think he was aiming for the classic “it’s written in the stars” football weirdness by bringing on Theo.
Walcott was on for his pace, he’s the new Shane Long chasing lost causes into space. Better get used to it, because it worked.
